167 
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SECOND REPORT 



OF THE 



Technical High School 



Commission 



TO THE 



Court of Common Council. 



HARTFORD, CONN. 
February 23, 1909. 



SECOND REPORT 



OF THE 



Technical High School 



Commission 



TO THE 



Court of Common Council 



HARTFORD, CONN. 

February 23, 1909. 






0' 07,1)/. 



Hartford, Conn., Feb. 23, 1909. 

To His Honor the Mayor and the Honorable Court of Com- 
mon Council of the City of Hartford. 
Gentlemen: 

We take pleasure in submitting the following report of the 
work of the Technical High School Commission since the presen- 
tation of our first report to your Honorable Board on November 
9th, 1908. 

In order that you may keep clearly in mind the work which 
this Commission was authorized and instructed to perform, we 
again call your attention to the following Resolutions passed by 
your Honorable Board on February 24th, 1908: 

Resolved: — That the Mayor be and hereby is authorized 
and empowered to appoint a committee of five representative 
citizens, to be known as "The Technical High School Com- 
mission" and to fill any vacancies which may occur in the 
membership of the same; the members of said Commission 
shall serve without pay other than necessary expenses in the 
discharge of the duties hereinafter provided for: 

Resolved: — That the said Technical High School Commis- 
sion be and hereby is authorized and instructed to make an 
exhaustive investigation and report upon the need and ad- 
visability of establishing a Technical High School within the 
City of Hartford. 

The duties and powers of said Commission shall be as 
follows : 

1. To study the location, design, cost, character of, 
work accomplished by, and the management of similar in- 
stitutions in other American cities. 

2. To study the local needs and requirements for Tech- 
nical High School Education, and to determine how such 
needs can best be provided for. 

3. To recommend, if it so elects, a site for a Technical 
High School with an estimate of the cost of the same. 

4. To obtain, if it so elects, preliminary plans for a 
building adapted to the requirements and to the location 
recommended, and reliable estimates of the cost of construction 
and equipment of the same. 

5. Said Commission is authorized, if it so elects, to hold 
one or more public hearings upon the whole or any particular 
feature of this problem. 

6. Said Commission may employ, from time to time, such 
expert advice as it may deem necessar5% and shall have all 
such other powers as are necessary to the proper completion 
of its duties in accordance with these resolutions. 



7. Said Commission shall report to the Court of Com- 
mon Council at its first meeting in October, 190S, the results 
of its investigations; an account of its expenditures; and 
the conclusions and recommendations agreed upon; said 
report to be accompanied by preliminary plans and an estimate 
of the cost of the site and of the construction and equipment 
of the building recommended. 

As a result of preliminary investigations under the above 
instructions the Technical High School Commission, in its first 
report to the Court of Common Council, unanimously recom- 
mended "the immediate erection of a new Technical High School 
building on Broad Street, the purchase of the property necessary 
for the same, and also the purchase or control of the remainder 
of the block on which the present High School buildings are situ- 
ated." 

The original appropriation of .$1,UU0.U0 for the work of the 
Commission being insufficient for securing preliminary plans and 
reliable estimates of the cost of construction and equipment of the 
building as well as the value of the real estate, the Commission 
requested of A^our Honorable Board an additional appropriation 
for the purpose of completing the work outlined in the said reso- 
lutions. 

Pursuant to this request, your Honorable Board passed 'the 
following resolutions on November 23rd, 1908: 

Resolved: — That the sum of Four Thousand Dollars 
($4,000) be and the same is hereby appropriated to the 
Technical High School Commission for the purpose of further 
carrying out the duties, obligations and requests set forth 
in the resolutions by which such commission was created. 

With this additional sum available, the Commission pro- 
ceeded to determine the estimated cost of carrying out the recom- 
mendations contained in its first report, and in compliance with 
paragraph 6 of the original resolutions, at a meeting of the Commis- 
sion held on December 1st, 190S, it was voted to employ Mr. 
William A. Sanborn as Real Estate Agent of the Technical High 
School Commission for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of 
acquiring the remainder of the block on which the present High 
School buildings are situated. The Commission also secured the 
services of Mr. John M. Carrere, of the firm of Carrere and Hastings, 
of New York City, as advisory architect, and Mr. Henry Robinson 
Buck as Consulting Engineer of the Technical High School Com- 
mission. Mr. William C. Holden, head of the Manual Training 
Department of the Hartford Public High School, was also employed, 
in an advisory capacity, and his intimate knowledge of the practical 
workings of his own department and his expert knowledge of the 
requirements of a Technical High School, have been of great service 
to us. Mr. Holden was also appointed to represent the High 




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School Committee in making suggestions for the new building 
so that the two committees have been working in perfect harmony 
throughout their deliberations upon this important subject. 

The first duty of the Commission was the preparation of a 
plan to secure competitive designs for the proposed Technical High 
School building. Such a competition would be valueless unless 
it called out the ability and endeavor of the best architects and the 
Commission was very fortunate in having the advice of Mr. Carrere 
in preparing the plan which was finally adopted. In conformity 
therewith the Commission invited three firms of architects from 
Hartford, two from New York City and one from Boston to enter 
the competition, agreeing to pay each of the invited competitors 
$250.00, the estimated cost of preparing the necessary drawings. 
Any other Hartford architect was at liberty to enter the competi- 
tion at his own expense, but the list was closed to all other out-of- 
town architects. On December 7th, 1908, the preliminary an- 
nouncement prepared by Mr. Carrere was formerly adopted by the 
Commission and copies were sent to each of the six invited com- 
petitors. Before adopting it, however, the Commission submitted 
it to the corporation counsel for his advice as to the powers of the 
Commission to make the agreements contained therein, and were 
assured by him that the Commission was acting fully within the 
rights and powers delegated to it vmder the resolution adopted by 
your honorable body. 

The terms and conditions of the competition, as explained 
in the preliminary announcement, were as follows: 

1. This competition is instituted by the Technical High 
School Commission, composed as follows: 

Archibald A. Welch, Chairman. 

Thomas S. Weaver, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Thomas F. Kane. 

Adolph W. Gilbert. 

Frederick L. Ford. 

and appointed by the Mayor, under authorit}^ of the Court of Com- 
mon Council, with power to select a site, to obtain preliminary 
plans for a building adapted to the requirements of the Technical 
High School with reliable estimates of the cost of construction and 
equipment of the same, which shall be submitted to the Court of 
Common Council for their consideration and action. 

2. The Commission have retained Mr. John M. Carrere as 
their professional adviser in conducting and in judging the com- 
petition, and they have extended an invitation to submit plans for 
the new building, which have been accepted by the following 
architects : 

Brocklesby & Smith, Hartford. 
Davis & Brooks, Hartford. 



George Keller, Hartford. 
Andrews, Jacques & Rantoul, Boston. 
Benjamin W. Morris, New York. 
Gambrill Rogers, New York. 

Each of the competitors thus invited will receive the sum of 
.$250. to cover the expense of the plans. 

3. The Commission, while not able to invite a larger number 
of competitors with compensation, desires also the participation 
of any architect, who, having maintained an office for the practice 
of his profession in the city of Hartford for not less than three years, 
can present to the Commission, through its professional adviser, such 
evidence of his professional ability as would justify the Commission 
in awarding the work contemplated to him in the event of his 
selection. Architects desiring to compete under this provision 
must communicate with Mr. John M. Carrere, No. 225 Fifth Avenue, 
New York City, on or before December 16th, and the Commission 
will extend an invitation to submit designs without compensation 
to such applicants as meet with their approval. 

4. The program, giving the full requirements of the building 
and stating the rules governing the competition, will be issued not 
later than December 81st, but, for the general information of thov 
competitors, the Commission wishes to state that: 

(a) The drawings recjuired will be only such in number and in 
scale as are necessary to express and explain the design and ar- 
rangement. 

(b) The time given the competitors for the preparation of the 
drawings will be four weeks from the date of the issuance of the 
program. 

(c) The drawings are to be submitted anonymously. 

(d) The drawings will be judged by the commission with the 
assistance of the expert adviser. 

(e) The decision of the Commission will be announced w^ithin 
three weeks after the close of the competition. 

(f) The author of the design placed first will be required to 
make such modifications and re-study as the Commission may desire, 
and to prepare a full set of preliminary plans, sections and eleva- 
tions embodying the revisions, with a full outline specification, and 
to secure definite and reliable estimates of the probable cost of 
construction and equipment of the same. 

(g) The Commission, upon the completion of the preliminary 
drawings and outline specifications, and the obtainment of the re- 
quired estimates to their satisfaction, will recommend to the Court 
of Common Council the adoption of the design placed first, and the 
employment of the author of the same to design the building and 
supervise its construction. They will also recommend that the 
rate of compensation and the terms of employment shall be in 



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accordance with the schedule of charges adopted by the American 
Institute of Arcliitects. 

While the employment of the architect rests with the Court 
of Common Council, and theCommission is therefore unable to guar- 
antee his employment, it has every reason to believe that its recom- 
mendations will be favorably acted upon, and the Commission 
hereb}'- agrees that, if the Court of Common Council should fail to 
employ the architect whom they may recommend within one year 
from the date of submission of the Commission's report to the 
said Court, the Commission will then pay him the sum of $1,500 in 
addition to the fee of $250 (mentioned in Section 2, paragraph 2,) 
in full settlement of all claims against the Commission, or the city 
of Hartford, with the understanding, however, that this sum is to 
be credited to the city of Hartford on account of any commissions 
which may become due should he be subsequently appointed and 
employed on this work. 

(h) The building for the Technical High School is to be 
erected in the city of Hartford on the property immediately in the 
rear of the present Hartford High School, fronting on Broad Street 
and extending from Farmington Avenue to Hopkins Street. The 
building will be approximately of the same size as the present High 
School, and, while the Commission desires to grant the greatest 
latitude to the competitors and will not endeavor in the program 
to issue definite instructions as to style or materials, it will, 
nevertheless, expect that the proposed building shall harmonize 
in general character, scale and materials with the High School 
building and the other educational buildings of which it is to form 
a group. 

In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of this 
announcement, Mr. Frank W. Whiton, of Hartford, entered the 
competition, thus making seven competitors. 

At a meeting of the Commission held on December 28th, 1908, 
the program for the architectural competition for the proposed Tech- 
nical High School building was submitted by Mr. John M. Carrere, 
the professional adviser, and formerly adopted by the Commission. 
Copies of this program were immediately sent to each of the seven 
competing architects. 

The Commission considers this program, prepared by Mr. 
Carrere from detailed information furnished by Mr. William C. 
Holden, a very interesting and instructive document in itself, 
and believing that the citizens of Hartford can obtain from it a very 
clear conception of the courses of studies which are to be offered in 
the proposed Technical High School, the program is given in full as 
follows : 

"Program giving full requirements of the building and stating 
rules governing the competition for the selection of an Architect for 
the proposed Technical High School Building, at Hartford, 
Connecticut. 



10 

The program and rules herein contained are complementary 
to and to be considered as a part of the announcement and con- 
ditions of the competition previously issued to each of the com- 
petitors, and the instructions set forth therein as far as they may 
affect the competition should be borne in mind by each competitior. 

The proposed Technical High School is entirely independent 
of the existing High School, and will be conducted under separate 
management and attended by a separate group of scholars. Never- 
theless, it is intended: 

First. To utilize the present Manual Training building, to 
extend the equipment of the same into those parts which will be 
vacated when the Art and other Departments are transferred to 
the new school ; but for the purposes of this competition the com- 
petitor need not enter into the details of this transformation beyond 
so planning his building that it can connect with this existing build- 
ing in a convenient and direct manner on each floor. It is, of course, 
desirable that the connections should be made so as to utilize the 
present corridors, stairs and other circulations of the existing 
building without tmdue encroachment upon the class rooms. 

Second. The present playground is to be used in common by 
both schools, the sessions being at different hours makes this 
arrangement perfectly practicable. 

Third. The present mechanical plant supplving heat and 
power to the High School is to be enlarged and utilized for the new 
building also. The competitors need not consider this point, 
which is only mentioned for their general information, so that no 
provision need be made for a mechanical plant in the new building. 

Fourth. It is especially urged by the Commission and the 
professional adviser that each competitor should visit the site in 
order to obtain a clear understanding of the relation of the pro- 
posed building to the existing and surrounding buildings. 

A survey of the entire lot, with grades and angles indicating 
the present High School, the Manual Training building and the 
surrounding buildings and streets, has been carefully prepared, 
and a copy of the same is furnished herewith to each competitor 
for his information. 

The Commission desires that the building shall be so planned 
that the arrangement will be simple and direct, and the best possible 
for the efficient use of the school. It attaches the greatest impor- 
tance, especially for the class rooms, to the question of adequate 
natural light and ventilation, upon which a school of this character 
absolutely depends for its success. 

As alread}^ stated in the announcement, the Commission 
desires, while leaving the greatest latitude to the competitors, that 
they should bear in mind the importance of harmonizing this build- 
ing with its surroundings and with the other buildings forming an 
im])ortant educational group of which it is to be a part. 



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It is the purpose of the Commission, within the Hmit of their 
requirements and the conditions by which they are legally bound, 
to give each competitor the greatest possible latitude in order to 
obtain his view^s as to the best solution of this problem. With this 
end in view, the Commission would state that the requirements 
mentioned herein are what they believe to be necessary, that 
the areas are approximate, that none of these conditions need be 
considered mandatory at this time, and may be varied within 
reason in order to facilitate the study of the problem by each of the 
competitors. 

DRAWINGS REQUIRED. 

A plan of the basement, first, second and third floors at the 
scale of TO inch to the foot. 

A block plan of the entire property bounded by Broad Street, 
on two sides by Hopkins Street, and on the fourth side by Farming- 
ton Avenue ; showing the present High School, the Manual Training 
School, and the Technical High School in their relation to each other 
and to the surrounding streets, at the scale of ^ inch to the foot. 

An elevation of the West front (Broad Street) at the scale of tb 
inch to the foot. 

One block section without any detail other than floors and 
walls with their openings and the height of stories marked thereon, 
at the scale of tb inch to the foot. 

A perspective sketch of which all of the details are left to the 
option of the competitor, excepting that it must be contained 
within the horizontal dimension of 12 inches. 

RENDERING. 

All the drawings are to be drawn in pencil either on tracing 
paper mounted on cardboard or on heavy white paper, at the 
option of the competitors. The rendering of all drawings is left 
entirely to the option of the competitor. 

All the drawings and documents are to be labeled "Technical 
High School, Hartford, Conn.," in Roman type followed by the 
designation of the drawing and its scale. 

In the plans, the designation of each room and the two dimen- 
sions of the same are to be indicated in clear Roman type. 

Competitors will be careful that beyond this printing there be 
no designating marks on any of the drawings or documents sub- 
mitted. 

A short typewritten description explanatory of any features of 
the design which may not be clearly shown on the drawings and of 
the materials and general method of construction proposed will 
be submitted by each competitor. He shall also state the number 
of cubic feet contained within the outside face of the walls of the 



13 

proposed building, according to his design, reckoned from the 
basement level to the mean of the roof. 

These drawings and no others will be submitted by the com- 
petitor. 

There must be enclosed with each set of drawings a plain white 
opaque envelope containing the competitor's name and address. 
The envelope must be securely sealed, without any address or mark 
which might disclose or suggest the identity of competitor. 

All the drawings are to be delivered in a sealed package, ad- 
dressed to John M. Carrere, Esq., 225 Fifth Avenue, New York, 
N. Y., before three o'clock on Saturday, January 30th. 

All inquiries for additional information on the part of the 
competitors must be made in writing only to the professional 
adviser, Mr. John M. Carrere, and must be received by him not 
later than January 10th. All such inquiries and the answers there- 
to will be simultaneously communicated by mail to each com- 
petitor. 

The sum appropriated for the cost of this building will be 
limited. It is therefore necessary that in plan and in construction 
due economy should be exercised to obtain the best results with 
the least possible outlay. The Commission attach a great deal of 
importance to this feature of the design. 

BASEMENT. 

The basement should contain a boys' bicycle room with a ca- 
pacity for 200 wheels. 

A girls' bicycle room with a capacity for 100 wheels. 

(Access to the bicycle rooms to be convenient from the exterior 
of the building.) 

A boys' plunge and showers, with lockers to accommodate 
800 pupils. 

A girls' plunge and showers, with lockers to accommodate 500 
pupils. 

(The plunge and showers will not be used simultaneously by 
over 100 pupils in each.) 

Lunch room for boys. 

Lunch room for girls. 

A central kitchen connected with lunch rooms. 

Boys' toilet and girls' toilet rooms, and female employees' toilet 
and dressing rooms. 

A teachers' room and a janitors' work and repair shop. 

A battery and switchboard room. 

One or more general storage rooms. 

A vault placed under the vault on the first floor. 

A vacuum cleaning apparatus room. 

Toilet rooms where called for on the various floors are meant 
to include a sufflcient number of lavatories and toilets and in the 
men's department necessary urinals. 



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FIRST FLOOR. 

The first floor should contain a main entrance, with vestibule 
and entrance hall. Around this hall, or in its immediate proximity, 
should be placed: 

The general office, 1,000 sq. ft. 

The Principal's office, 250 sq. ft. This office should be placed 
between the general office and reception rooms, and connect with 
both. 

Reception room, 400 sq. ft. 

Four recitation rooms, about 450 sq. ft. each, distributed in 
different parts of this floor. 

A vault about 100 sq. ft. connecting with the general office. 

A book room, 850 sq. ft. 

Men teachers' room, 600 sq. ft. 

Women teachers' room, 600 sq. ft. 

Museum, 1,250 sq. ft. 

Thirteen (13) session rooms (class rooms) about 1,200 sq. ft. 
each. (As far as practicable the depth of these rooms from the 
window to back wall shoud not exceed 30 ft.) 

At least three additional entrances and three flights of stairs 
must be provided equally distributed over the building; each 
entrance should have its vestibule, the stairs should be in proximity 
to the entrances and should be continuous from the basement to 
the third floor. 

Toilet rooms: One for boys and one for girls. These should 
be conveniently located for general use, and should be at opposite 
ends of this floor. 

Coat rooms: There should not be less than ten (10) coat rooms 
on this floor. These coat rooms should be distributed at various 
points so as to serve one and not more than two class rooms. They 
must open into the halls and not into the rooms. It is preferred 
that they should be treated as alcoves, entirely open on the hall 
side. The approximate size is 150 sq. ft. each. 

Gymnasium, 7,500 sq. ft. without running track, and easily 
accessible to the stairways and exits, as well as to lockers and 
bathrooms in basement, and so placed as to be accessible to the 
present playground, which may be used by both schools. 

The gymnasium should have a small room for the instructor, 
with separate stairs leading to basement and to playground. 

Gymnasium to extend through two stories. It may be placed 
on this floor extending through the second floor, or may be dropped 
to the basement extending through the first floor, at the option of 
the competitors, — the stairs and entrance of course being adjusted 
to whichever scheme is adopted. 

The school building should be so planned that at least one 
connection is provided for between this building on this floor and the 
corresponding floor of the present Manual Training building. 



16 

SECOND FLOOR. 

The second floor should contain an Assembly Hall to accom- 
modate 1,200 to 1,300 pupils, extending through two stories, and 
provided with a small stage and a gallery. This room must be 
so placed as to permit of its being sub-divided into four lecture 
rooms on the two floors, should it be decided that an Assembly 
Hall will not be necessary. 

Nine (9) session rooms, 1,200 sq. ft. each. 

Two (2) recitation rooms, 450 sq. ft., each to be placed near 
the class room rather than in proximity to the Laboratories. 

Library and reading room, 2,400 sc[. ft. 

Editorial room, 450 sq. ft. (near Library). 

Two (2) physics laboratories, 1,200 sq. ft. each. 

A chemical laboratory. 1,200 sq. ft. 

A chemical laboratory, 750 sc[. ft. 

Two science laboratories, 1,200 scp ft. each. 

The laboratories should be in one wing of the building, in 
proximity to each other. 

In connection with these laboratories two private laboratories 
are required, about 300 sq. ft. each, and two apparatus rooms, 
about 150 sq. ft. each. 

It is desired that one of the private laboratories and the two 
apparatus rooms should be placed next to each other and between 
two of the large laboratories so arranged that the private laboratory 
will connect w^ith both of the large laboratories and both of the 
apparatus rooms, and that each of the large laboratories shall also 
connect with one of the apparatus rooms. 

Coat rooms, or alcoves, about 150 sq. ft. each, to be provided on 
this floor, of the same size and arrangement as on the floor below, 
and as far as practicable it is desirable that these coat rooms should 
be placed above the ones below^ There is no objection to com- 
bining an}" two of these coat rooms into one larger coat room, 
especially where in proximity to the stairs. 

Three (3) storage rooms, 150 sq. ft. each. These need not 
have light. 

Toilet rooms: one for boys and one for girls, arranged as sug- 
gested for the first floor; also a women teachers' toilet room. 

The building should be so planned that two connections are 
provided for between this building on this floor and the correspond- 
ing floor of the present 3ilanual Training building. 

THIRD FLOOR. 

The third floor should contain the upper part of the Assembly 
Hall and gallery. 

Two (2) domestic science rooms, 1,000 sq. ft. each. These 
rooms should be separated by a pantry, 150 sq. ft., small kitchen, 
150 sq. ft., and dining room, 150 sq. ft., all connecting with each 
other and with each domestic science room. 



18 

A domestic and fine art teachers' room, 450 sq. ft. 
Four (4) mechanical drawing rooms, 1,200 sq. ft. each. 
One (1) mechanical drawing room, 600 sq. ft. 
One (1) mechanical drawing teachers' room, 450 sq. ft. 
(Adjoining this room provide for a small Dark Room and Blue 
Print room.) 

Tw^o (2) domestic art rooms, 1,200 sq. ft. 
Domestic art and science teachers' room, 600 sq. ft. 
Sketch room, 750 sq. ft. 
Two freehand drawing rooms, 1.200 sq. ft. 
Two bookkeeping rooms, 1,600 sq. ft. 
Two typewriting rooms, 450 sq. ft. 
Two commercial work rooms, 1,200 sq. ft. 

Lecture room, 2,500 sq. ft., provided with a small room or 
large closet for stereopticon, screens and illustrative material. 
Toilet rooms : one for boys and one for girls. 
The class rooms and teachers' rooms should be grouped 
according to the subjects, and the kindred subjects should be 
grouped in proximity to each other, the teachers' rooms for each 
division being placed as centrally as possible to facilitate super- 
vision. 

The Art Department, Mechanical Drawing, Domestic Art and 
Science Departments should be grouped together and adjacent to 
each other. 

The Art Department and the Mechanical Drawing Department 
as far as possible should have a north light and also be provided 
with top light, and should be as closely associated with each other 
as possible. 

The fioor will, of course, not be required to connect with the 
present Manual Training building, which is one story lower. 
(Signed) 
Archibald A. Welch, Chairman. 
Thomas S. Weaver, Secretary. 
Thomas F. Kane. 
Adolph W. Gilbert. 
Frederick L. Ford. 

Technical High School Commission. 
Hartford, December 28, 1908." 

In compliance with the provisions of the above program seven 
complete sets of drawings were submitted to Mr. John M. Carrere 
at his office, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York City, for the proposed 
Technical High School building, within the specified time. Each 
package was opened separately and the contents of the same given 
a designating number. 

The envelopes containing the names of the competitors were 
each placed in a sealed envelope in the presence of a Notary Public, 
the envelope was given a number similar to its corresponding set of 



19 

drawings, and was mailed to Mr. Thomas S. Weaver, Secretary of 
the Commission,' at Hartford. 

During the following week, Mr. Carrere made a careful exami- 
nation of each set of drawings submitted in the competition to see 
that all strictly complied with the terms of the program. On 
Saturday, February 6th, 1909, all of the members of the Com- 
mission met in Mr. Carrere's office in New York City, and each set 
of drawings was carefully and thoroughly studied, Mr. Carrere 
calling the attention of the Commission to the characteristic fea- 
tures and minor defects of each design. At the conclusion of this 
inspection and study Mr. Carrere submitted to the Commission a 
very thorough and comprehensive typewritten report upon his 
conclusion of the results of the competition. In this report Mr. 
Carrere stated that "after a careful examination of the drawings, 
I am able to report that there are no infractions of the program, 
and that excepting in minor details they all comply with the 
requirements governing the competition. The cubical contents 
given by the various competitors have been verified and found to 
be substantially correct. I also feel that on the whole the com- 
petition has been very fruitful, as many of the designs are most 
interesting and suggestive, presenting very interesting solutions of 
the problem and exhibiting considerable skill on the part of their 
authors." 

Mr. Carrere's report further says that "after a careful analysis 
and study of all the designs I am greatly impressed with design No. 
5. The practical arrangement in my judgment is better than that 
of an}'- of the other designs and the conception and manner in which 
it is handled exhibit very unusual skill and promise, on the part 
of its author, the ability and comprehension necessary to design and 
erect an entirely satisfactory building. It has moreover the merit 
of being so compact that it contains considerably less cubical con- 
tents than most of the designs, only one of which approaches it in 
any way. I believe that, if the program which^was given me is not 
changed, the plan can be executed with very few modifications. 
The class rooms all have ideal light and the whole appearance of 
the plan suggests light and air. Furthermore, this more than any 
other, has the merit of expressing clearly in plan and in elevation 
the function of each part of the building. The administration 
offices for instance are all grouped around the entrance, practically 
in a separate wing, in the upper part of which is placed the Assembly 
Hall, which is clearly expressed in the facade. The class rooms are 
so arranged that while they have a maximum of light on the long 
sides, the short sides are blank walls which add greatly to the 
effectiveness of the elevation. I believe that w4th a building as long 
as this one the breaking up of the facade by the re-entering cotirts 
will add a great deal to the beauty, effectiveness and certainly to the 
picturesqueness of the building. This would be even more notice- 
able in execution than can be realized from the plans." 








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"The scheme of connecting the High School with the Manual 
Training School is most effective, in that principally from Farming- 
ton Avenue but also from Hopkins Street it will form not only a 
useful but an ornamental feature w^hich will mask the plain Manual 
Training School building and the other .... group of 

buildings In view of the above considerations I have 

no hesitation in commending to you for your selection and appoint- 
ment as the architect of your building the author of design No. 5, 
who in my judgment has shown the most comprehensive grasp 
and the most skilful handling of the problem, both from the practi- 
cal and from the artistic point of view." 

In his report Mr. Carrere speaks of the estimated cost of the 
building as follows : 

"The requirements were definitely established as to size and 
character and it is my belief that they have been met within the 
lines of strict economy. It remains therefore for your Commission 
to establish the cost of the building, which at this stage* of the 
proceedings can be best computed by determining on a unit of 
price by w^hich to multiply the cube of the building, and then to 
determine to what extent this may be made the basis or to what 
extent the design may have to be revised for this purpose." 

"From all information which I have been able to obtain from 
A'arious reliable sources and which I have carefully computed and 
compared, I believe that a reasonable allowance of unit price per 
cubic foot for the entire building completely equipped (heating, 
lighting and ventilation) would be 20 cents, which would make the 
cost of the building No. 5, $600,000." 

At the conclusion of the reading of Mr. Carrere's report the 
Commission unanimously voted to accept it and, in accordance with 
the recommendation of the advisor}^ architect, also voted that 
the author of design No. 5 be placed first in the competition. The 
Commission also voted to recommend to the Court of Common 
Council the adoption of the design placed first, and the employment 
of the author of the same to design the building and supervise its 
construction, and that the rate of compensation and the terms 
of employment shall be in accordance with the schedule of charges 
adopted by the American Institute of Architects. 

The sealed envelopes containing the names of the competitors 
were then opened in the presence of the Commission and advisory 
Architect and the authors of the seven plans submitted were 
identified. The authors of Design No. 5, placed first in the com- 
petition, by vote of the Commission, were found to be Davis & 
Brooks, of Hartford, Connecticut, associated with Palmer & 
Hornbostel, of New York City, as consulting architects. 

The following typewritten description accompanied the 
submission of Davis and Brooks, and is explanatory of the char- 
acteristic features of their design. 



THE BLOCK PLAN. 
The Ensemble. 

After careful!}' studying the program and examining the site 
we most sincerely concur in the desire of the Commission to pocure 
by the erection of this Technical School a harmonious group of 
buildings : one that when completed will appear unified in purpose 
and conception, balanced in composition and harmonious in color. 
These are matters too often neglected in the natural growth of our 
institutions into new buildings. 

We have therefore endeavored to show in our drawings not 
only a practical modern School Building jbut also an ensemble. 

Our bviilding is the same length and occupies the same relative 
position on Broad Street as the present School occupies on Hopkins 
Street, and their areas being approximately the same their masses 
will balance. 

The Playgroi'nd. 

This arrangement enlarges, encloses and gives architectural 
position to the playground as a fine open court 160x230 feet be- 
tween the southern ends of the two schools. 

The Park. 
The northern ends form a shallower open court increasing and 
dignifying by symmetry and composition the School Park already 
begun on Farmington Avenue, as shown by our perspective sketch. 

The Shape of the New School. 

It is conceivable that the requirements might be con\'eniently 
placed in a "U" or "L" shape building in which the northerly arm 
or both arms joined the Manual Training building, but this arrange- 
ment never could create a pleasing ensemble unless the new build- 
ing practically continued the present High School design along 
Farmington Avenue. 

This we believe is not the intention of the program but rather 
that the new school should be a distinct building. Each school 
is, moreover, a large building and the masses should be kept dis- 
tinct. No general shape of building could be better adopted to a 
school than the one here presented, giving not only a mass recalling 
its sister school but providing direct communication to and super- 
vision of all parts, perfectly lighted outside class rooms, no interior 
courts and no dark angles. 

The shape of our building also allows the present Night School 
to remain with ample ground around it as long as may be necessary. 

Intercommunication'. 

Two fundamental requirements must then be met; to make 
direct connection with the Manual Training building and to screen 
this incongruous building, its adjoining mechanical plant and other 
unsightly adjuncts, especially from the Farmington Avenue end. 

This we have accomplished by tying the two main btiildings 






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of the group together with an arcade passing the ends of the Manual 
Training building. 

These form charming architectural treatments unifying the 
whole composition and making possible with the aid of a little 
landscape work, suggested by our block plan, a most beautiful 
efifect from one of the chief thoroughfares of the city. The point 
from which our perspective is chosen is designed to illustrate the 
big efTect our grouping will have from this end. 

These arcades make direct connection on the second floor at 
each end of the corridor of the Manual Training building. 

The south arcade also connects on the first floor and it would 
be easy and seem desirable to continue this arcade to the present 
school, thus making intercommunication complete. Connection 
might be made with what is now a girls' toilet and by a very small 
alteration gain access to the main corridor of the High School. 

This arcade bounding the northern end of the playground 
would form a natural exit to that campus from all the schools. 

The northern arcade is treated with two symmetrical pavilions 
forming at one end an entrance from the drive serving the coal 
bunker and boiler house; at the other forming the third entrance 
called for in the program and at the same time giving access for 
teams ser\-ing the Lunch Room Kitchen. 

FuTURK Group. 

This is another important consideration which our general plan 
makes possible at the proper point of the group. 

The Manual Training building will become the most insigni- 
ficant building of the grovip and the need of expansion in the future 
is most likely to be felt here. 

Additional room seci:red at this central point of the plot will 
be available for either school as well as for the Manual Training 
building. 

By placing steel columns in this building several stories might 
be added and this building, so enlarged, would give an added 
element of strength to the composition, a high central mass on the 
access of the great open courts to north and south. Our plan does 
not commit one to this form of growth, howe\-er, as the Manual 
Training Building has ample space to increase lengthwise if this 
proves more practical. 

DETAIL FEATURES OF THE PLANS. 
The Grouping and Princip.vl Rooms. 

The Gymnasium occupies all the space facing the playground 
through the first floor thus eliminating the noise from all class 
rooms. 

It is so placed as to divide the boys' end from the girls' end in 
the exact ratio of eight and five. That is, eight class rooms are to 
the north of the Gymnasium devoted to boys and five to the south 
to girls. 



25 

The laboratory group, second floor, and the drawing group, 
third floor, are, in general, over the north, or boys' end, while the 
south end contains the second floor class rooms and on the third 
the domestic art and science groups. 

The baths and lockers naturally group themselves about the 
Gvmnasium and occupy the south half of the basement, the girls 
reaching their locker rooms, etc., by their own staircase, the boys 
by the central staircase. 

The lunch rooms are in the northern half and the girls reach 
theirs by the central staircase, the boys by their own. 

It wall be seen therefore that careful attention has been paid 
to the grouping of the sexes in their proper ratio, the grouping of 
departments near those most using them, and, in the basement to 
a perfectly simple arrangement for keeping the sexes apart in the 
use of both Gymnasium and lunch rooms without any serious 
interference with the corridpr or without any extra corridor. 

The Assembly Hall is in the center of the building with ample 
access to the corridor from both floor and gallery. It is reached 
from below by a centre flight of monumental stairs directly opposite 
the central entrance. 

Centrally placed, also con\'enient to these stairs, are the two 
other large rooms, the Library on the second floor and the Lecture 
Hall on the third floor. 

Entrances and Grades. 

The boys and girls have separate entrances at a central 
point in their class room groups. 

Double interlocking stairways are placed betw^een these en- 
trances and the corridor so that it is possible to reach any floor 
directly without crossing the building. 

The toilets are at each end of the building near the stairs and 
occupy identical positions on every floor except the girls' basement 
toilet, which is moved to make it adjoin their locker room. 

At the boys' end the grade admits to the landing of the stairs 
midway between basement and main floor; at the girls' end to the 
basement level. 

The grade of the lot naturally places the floors of this building 
midway betw^een the floor levels of the present building. Our con- 
necting arcade, therefore, by entering the new building on the 
landing of the main flight conveniently overcomes this change of 
grade. 

The northern arcade has steps over the entrance to meet the 
change in level. 

Class Room Units. 

These rooms are absolutely uniform throughout the building, 
30 X 40 feet with abundant light from a group of five window^s on 
the long side of the rooms only, furnishing one foot of glass area 
for six and one-third foot of floor area. 

Each has a wardrobe alcove, half the wardrobes being grouped 
close to the staircases. 



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MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION. 

There is contemplated in these plans a fireproof construction 
of floors and walls upon a steel frame with the exterior walls self- 
supporting and bearing their share of the weight of the floors. 
Vertical ventilating ducts will be carried in the framing space of the 
corridor walls, horizontal runs in space over the corridor ceilings. 

It seems unnecessary in this report to go further into the ques- 
tion of materials of inside finish except to say that it is intended 
to follow the best school practice from a sanitary and fireproof 
standpoint with due regard to simplicity and the purposes for 
which the building is intended. 

Exterior. 

In the matter of exterior, we have already indicated our firm 
belief in the possibilit}^ of an ensemble of a very attractive nature 
and harmony of color and materials will be an important factor in 
producing this effect. 

There may be more interesting ways of laying the brick, there 
may be more interesting red brick in point of play of color over a 
wall surface than the present building gives. 

Both these points should be fully appreciated in selecting a 
brick and designing the walls of the new building and it is reason- 
able to hope for additional interest in the wall surface without any 
loss of harmony to the group. 

In the matter of stone trim the intention of our design is 
simply to recommend brown sandstone or a trim corresponding in 
color to the present building. 

CUBAGE. 

There are in this building about 3,000,000 cubic feet computed 
as per program. Respectfully submitted, 

(wSigned) Davis & Brooks. 

Obviously from the above detailed description of the proposed 
Technical High School building, the design submitted by Davis 
& Brooks, and recommended by this Commission is simple m 
outline, yet dignified and imposing in character, and we believe 
that the general effect of the High School group when completed 
will be highly satisfactory. The Commission is of the opinion that 
it should be built in accordance with the best modern High School 
practice, and fireproof throughout. No materials, in our judg- 
ment, could be selected for the exterior which would be more econ- 
omical or durable or more in harmony with the surrounding public 
buildings than red brick with brown stone or similar colored trim. 

In case the construction of the Technical High School building 
is authorized at the spring election, as we have confidence to believe 
it will be, under the most favorable circumstances, ground could 
probably not be broken before September 1st, 1909, and it is 



estimated that it would require about 24 months to complete the 
structure. After that the building would have to be furnished, so 
that it would not be read\' for occupancy before the opening of the 
fall term 1911. 

This fact naturally leads the Commission to consider what 
can be done to temporarih^ relieve the growing congestion in the 
present High School, which now has about 150 more pupils, in 
regular attendance, than can be comJortably provided for. Each 
year the attendance is augmented by from 50 to 150 pupils. Using 
100 as the average the present attendance will be increased by 200 
from the entering classes of 1909 and 1910 so that the enrollment 
before the opening of the new school promises about 350 more pupils 
than the present High School was designed for, or intended to 
accommodate. The Commission, however, believes that if the 
remainder of the block, now partially utilized for High School pur- 
poses, is acquired by the city, in accordance with previous recom- 
mendations of this Commission, the buildings on the Farmington 
Avenue front, which will not be disturbed by the construction of 
the new school building, can remain and be utilized as temporary 
High School quarters, for the additional number of High School 
pupils which enter in 1909 and 1910. 

In planning the Technical High School building provision has 
been made for 1200 pupils, but it will be some years before the 
school is fully utilized and naturally it need not be completely fur- 
nished at once. The Commission has had no opportunit}'' of 
closely determining the cost of furnishing this building but we feel 
that, in financing this project, you may want some idea of this fea- 
ture of its cost and if so it can perhaps best be obtained from 
Springfield's experience. Their Technical High School building 
accommodates 800 pupils and the cost of furnishings w^as $38,000. 
On this basis it would cost to similarly furnish a building accom- 
modating 1200 pupils $57,000. 

While the Commission had no authority to secure options on 
the property which we advised be purchased by the city in our first 
report to your Honorable Board, we have had Mr. William A. 
Sanborn, our real estate representative, approach the] nine 
separate owners of this property, and basing our judgment on Mr. 
vSanborn's report, we believe that the remainder of the block 
required for High vSchool purposes can be secured for from $150,000 
to $175,000. Taking the following assumptions, most of which are 
deducted from the figures thus presented, let us estimate the 
appropriation which w^ould be necessary each year to carry this 
plan to completion. 

(1) Estimated cost of land $150,000 to $175,000. 

(2) Estimated cost of Technical High School building, 

$600,000. 

(3) Estimated cost of furnishings necessary for opening of 

School, $40,000. 



29 

(4) Contract to be let and work started September 1st, 1909. 

(5) Time for completing building contract, equipment and 

furnishing, 24 months. 

(6) Cost of work per month if uniform progress is maintained 

throughout, $25,000. 

(7) Monthly payments of 85 per centum, first payment due 

and payable October 1, 1909. 

(8) 73^2% payment upon completion of contract, and final 

73^% sixty days from completion, or upon the final 
acceptance of the entire contract. 

(9) Each fiscal year beginning April 1st. 

(10) New connections to and changes in Manual Training 

building to conform with new building, $15,000. 

24 month contract to be commenced Sept. 1, 1909, and com- 
pleted Sept. 1, 1911,— $25,000 worth of work each month. 

(1) First Year— April 1, 1909 to April 1, 1910. 

For purchase of land $150,000 to $175,000 

Six 85% monthly payments, Oct. 1, 
1909, to Mar. 1, 1910, inclusive 
at $21,250 127,500 127,500 

Total estimiated cost, first year $277,500 $ 302,500 

(2) Second Year — April 1, 1910 to April 1, 1911. 
Twelve 85% monthly payments, 

April 1, 1910 to April 1, 1911, in- 
clusive at $21,250 $255,000 $255,000 

(3) Third Year — April 1, 1911 to Completion of Contract. 
Six 85% monthly payments, April 

1, 1911, to Sept. 1, 1911, inclu- 
sive at $21,250 $127,500 $127,500 

73^% payment Sept. 1, 1911 45,000 45,000 

Estimated cost of furnishings 40,000 40,000 

Changes in and connections with 

Manual Training building 15,000 15,000 

Final 7K% payable on Nov. 1, 1911.. 45,000 45,000 

Total estimated cost for third year . . . $272,500 $272,500 
Total estimated cost of land, build- 
ings and furnishings $805,000 $830,000 



30 

Grouping these figures, the total yearly expenditures would be 
as follows: 

Expenditures First Year $277,500 $302,500 

Expenditures Second Year 255,000 255,000 

Expenditures Third Year 272,500 272,500 

Total $805,000 $830,000 

From the above tabulation it is obvious that the appropriation 
which would be needed each year is quite evenly distributed over 
the three year period under a 24 month contract, and the Commis- 
sion is of the opinion that two years would be none too long to 
carry through such a large contract in a thorough and workmanlike 
manner. Of course it will neither be practicable nor economical 
to carry through such a large undertaking at a uniform rate of 
progress. During the summer and early fall months when condi- 
tions are ideal for outside structural work much more should be 
accomplished than during unfavorable winter months, conse- 
quentlv there would be considerable variation in the amount of 
the monthly payments. If the work as a whole is authorized, 
the Commission should be given sufficient latitude to make the 
most favorable contract for the city. 

The plan which we have recommended for the Technical High 
School building could be divided into two separate contracts, and 
each one carried out as needed, but it could not be so divided 
without considerable sacrifice in the cost of the work as well as 
serious interruption to the efificiency of the new institution. As a 
Commission we are unanimously of the opinion that the entire 
building should be contracted for and built as a unit. We believe 
enough would be saved in the contract itself to more than pay 
interest on the additional investment. 

We estimate that with the natural growth of the present 
High School there will be from 400 to 500 pupils to be provided for 
in^the fall of 1911 at the opening of the new school. Furthermore, 
if the experience of Springfield, Massachusetts, is any criterion, 
there will be an additional stimulus for many boys and girls who 
now leave school at the end of the graded school courses or shortly 
after entering the present High School, to enter and continue in the 
new school. Springfield found that as soon as its New Technical 
High School was completed the attendance in the two High Schools 
increased very rapidly, and we believe that Hartford's experience 
will be similar. 

From the foregoing report it will be seen that the Commission 
has nearly completed the duties imposed upon it by your honorable 
body. It remains, then, only to sum up the recommendations 
which the Commission desires to lay before you, some of which 
have already appeared in our first report. 



First. We recommend the immediate erection of a new 
Technical High School building to face on Broad Street, and for 
that purpose the acquirement of the remainder of the block now 
partially occupied by the present High School building. The 
reasons which impelled the Commission in making this recom- 
mendation are fully set forth in the first report made to your 
honorable body. 

Second. We recommend the adoption of the design of the 
new High School building offered by Davis & Brooks, architects, 
of this city, which was placed first in the competition instituted by 
the Commission. 

Third. — We recommend the emplo3mient of Davis & Brooks, 
architects, of this city, to design the Technical High School build- 
ing in all its cleatil, and to supervise its construction, the rate of com- 
pensation and terms of employment to be in accordance with the 
schedule of charges adopted by the American Institute of Archi- 
tects. 

Fourth. We recommend that authorization for^the necessary 
expenditure for said work be secured at the coming city election in 
April. 

Fifth. We recommend that authority be secured from the 
Legislature to issue bonds in payment of the above described work. 

Sixth. We would ask that the Technical High School Com- 
mission be granted such additional powers as would enable it to 
carry out, under the instructions of your honorable body, the 
recommendations herein made. 

Seventh. W^e recommend that this report be accepted as a 
report of progress and ordered printed at your meeting February 
23, 1909, and immediately referred to the Board of Finance for their 
consideration. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Archibald A. Welch, Chairman. 

Thomas S. WEAVER,'_Secretary and Treasurer. 

Thomas F. Kane. 

Adolph W. Gilbert. 

Frederick L. Ford. 

Technical High School Commission. 



013 973 377 



